"And there were four leprous men at the
entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we
die?”-- 2 Kings 7:3

Sometimes, as we saw yesterday, our strength is to sit still,
to do nothing, to simply wait on God. But that is not always the case. Some
circumstances call for action. There are times when we are to be, as Paul puts
it, "Workers together with God"
(2 Cor. 6:1).

The Lepers' Logic

These four leprous men had
to do something. Otherwise, they would certainly die. If they sat still and did
nothing, they would die. If they went into Samaria, where everyone was starving
to death, they would surely die. And if they went to the camp of the Syrians,
they would probably die. The Syrians would most likely kill them. But they
might possibly live. What a blessed door of hope. -- They might live! The
Syrians might spare them. And if they did, there was plenty of food in the
Syrian camp for their starving lives. So they looked at each other and said,
"Why sit wehere until we die?" That is good sense, good logic. Don't you
think?

It would have been foolish
for these men to sit still, do nothing, and wait for God to bring them food,
when all they had to do was walk across the field and eat. Such presumption in
the face of obvious opportunity and responsibility is inexcusable! Yet, in
spiritual matters, many are just that presumptuous, foolish, and irresponsible.
I hope you are not. When circumstances demand that we do something, we must not
sit still and do nothing.

The Sinner's Responsibility

When the salvation of your
immortal soul is at stake, when you are in danger of being lost forever, it is
time to do something. If you sit down and say, "I am waiting for God to
save me," you will never be saved. God does not knock sinners in the head
and drag them to heaven. If you do not want Christ, he will not be forced upon
you. You will not be saved until you seek the Lord (Jer. 29:12-13). If you
choose to do so, you can sit still and go to hell. Or, you may come to Christ
and be saved. But, if you wish to be saved, there are some things you must do
(Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31). You must repent. You must believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ. Believing him, you must publicly devote yourself to him in believer's baptism.

The Believer's Work

When something needs to be
done, which we have the opportunity and ability to do, for the glory of God,
the cause of Christ, the furtherance of the gospel, or the good of others, it
is time to do something. To sit still when God gives us the opportunity to do
something, to do anything, for Christ, is the height of ingratitude. "Whatsoever he saith unto you," by
his Word, by his Spirit, or by his providence, "do it." Do it with all our might. And do it now (Eccles.
9:10).